Indicating device



Dec. 3, 1940. A. E. RINEER INDICATING DEVICE Filed June l5. 1938 lNvETOR 6 BY TTDREY Patented Dec. '3, 1940 UNITED STATES APATEN'r orrorelArthur E. Rincer, Dayton, Ohio Application June 15,' 1938, Serial No.213,937

9Ciaims.

erted upon the spring. However, ii' the spring used as a lever is movedabout a pivot, the linear' l displacemenet along a straight line willvary,

that is, the eil'ective length of the spring meas ured with respect to astraight line and a pivot changes. Numerous attempts have been made `tocompensate for thel change in the effectiveY length of a spring.

An object of this invention is to provide a oating fulcrum for a springfunctioning as a lever, which fulcrum is automatically shifted so' as tocause the uniform displacement of the spring along a straight line.

Another object oi this invention is to provide' an adjustment forchanging a compensating mechanism by controlling the eil'ective lengthoi a lever.

Another object -of this invention is to provide an arcuate supportcontacting e. lever, the arcuate support being provided with adjustingmechanism for changing the radius of curvature thereof. A

,Another object oi this invention is to provide means for shifting alever to change the relative effectiveness thereof. t

Another object of this invention is to'provide an indicating device thatis cheap, easily manufactured, accurate, easily adjusted and iiexible toaccommodate changed conditions.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of ports, thecombination thereoi and the mode oioperetion, ves will become moreapparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is s side elevation showing the indicating device in section. e

Figure 3 is a perspective view oi a portion of the indicating mech 4.een

Referring to the drawing, a. case I0, shown in section, supports enupwardly projecting standard I2, havine'ilxedly attached thereto asubstantially J-shaped letti spring member il, hav ing its end itriveted or otherwise attached to the standard i2. This spring engages ai'ulcrum lil. which will be more fully described later, and issubjected. to the influence of an actuating device such as a bellows 22.The free end of the spring i4 drives a suitable indicating mechanism 26,which will be described more fully. Sumce to state, that as the top oithe bellows 2 exerts (Cl. 'i3-11(9) a pressure against the spring It,the outer end 26 of the spring is raised and when the force exerted bythe bellows 22 is decreased, the outer end 26 ot the spring is lowered.It is very de six-able that the movement oi the outer end 2S 5 of thespring it be uniform for equal incre-' ments of chance in force. If themovements of the outer end 2 of the spring it were measured along thearc swept out'by the free end of the spring, the magnitude oi eeenmovement would 10 be in direct proportion to the force applied; but inmany indicating devic the arcuate movement is measured in the directionoi a straight line. In the modification disclosed, .the movement isresolved alone the vertical axis, parallel to the axis of the shaft it..iis iswell known, uniform increments of movements of the end oi thespring are translated int/o vertical movements in proportion to the sineo the angle of displacement.

In the embodiment shown, the verticel dis placement of the end of thespring le is substantielly constant. This has been accomplished byproviding an arcuate, flexible fulcrum member 2d for the spring it, sothat the eective length 25 of the lever is changed Whenever thedisplacement oi the spring is changed. This length is changedautomatically. As the spring escends, the point of contact hss shiftedfrom the point 2t to a point 3Q, thereby sccelereting the move- 30 mentoi' the end 2t oi the spring as the spring is disploced. The curvatureoi the iulcrum 2t) and the position thereof may be adjusted. Thisiulcrum `includes the following structure.

The iexible iulcrum member 2t, arcuate in 35 shape, is pivotally mountedat 32. The ends Se (and t@ of the arcuate member *may be adjusted towardeach other end away from esch other by the turnbuckle it. By tighteningor shortening the turnbucirle te, the radius of curvature of the fulcrum2@ is decreased. By loosening or extending the turnbuckle it, the radiusof curvature is increased. The fulcrum 2t may be swung or oscillatedabout the pivot t2 by adjusting the turnbuckie it, which has one endmounted upon e. pivot t2 xedly attached to a bracket tt, rigidly mountedto the case enclosing the Working mechanism. The other end of theturnbuckle d is pivotally attached to the swinging end of the i'ulcrum2t. By adjusting the turnbuckle t6, 50 the point of contact between theiulcrum 2@ and the spring It is adjusted. By so doing, the indicatormechanism may be calibered.

In the embodiment disclosed, a bellows 22 responding to changes inpressure has been shown.

wardly by a mechanism now to be described. The

shaft 25 carries a pair of disc members 50 and 52 xediy attached to theshaft and supporting a helical member 54 made from spring wire or fromany suitable material. As the end 2S of the spring is raised, the shaft2E is rotated in one direction by the bifurcated end straddling memberd. When the end 2B of the lspring is lowered, the shaft 25 is rotated inthe opposite direction. In order to reduce friction, the lower end ofthe shaft 25 is preferably tapered, so as to have a substantially pointcontact with `the base. The upper end of shaft 25 projectsv through thetop 60 of the casing and supports an indicator or pointer $2.registering with indicia upon the dial Sii. The dial B4 is preferablyro*- tatably mounted, so that the instrument may be calibrated oradjusted to any position when no load is applied, by rotating the dial64 so thatzero or any other predetermined point registers with thepointer 62. Then as the lever i4 is deflected, the indicator is rotatedand the amount vmay be read upon the dial M. The spring i4.

may have its aero position adjusted by the adjusting screw 66 mounted inthe standard I2 and engaging the spring i4 in spaced relation from itsend i5.

Although a bellows has been used for actuating the lever, any othersuitable linear movement may be registered or measured by merelyconnecting the device producing the linear movement to the standard 88.

Although the preferred modication of the dev vice has been described, itwill bevunderstood that within the purview of this invention various ichanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts which generally stated consist in a devicen capable of carryingout the objects set forth, in the novel parts, combination of parts andmode of operation, as disclosedand dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. I claim:

1. An indicatingdevice for indicating incrementsof displacement of amovable member responding to changed conditions, said .indicating deviceincluding a substantially .l-shaped spring member having the end of thestem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by said bifurcated end of the stem foractuating an indicant, said J-shaped member having the end opposite thebifurcated end fixedly mounted, an arched fulcrum adjustably mounted inspaced relation from the fixed end of the spring and engaging the J-shaped member on the side of the bight substantially opposite the fixedend, means for changing the radius of curvature of the arcuate fulcrum,means for adjusting the position of the arcuate fulcrum, and meansresponding to the changed conditions, said last -means engaging thespring ber to actuate the member.

2. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member respiraliy disposed actuatingA sponding t0 changedconditions, said indicating 5 device including a substantially J-shapedspring member having the end oi the stem bifurcated, indicating meansincluding a spirally disposed actuating member straddled by saidbiiurcated end oi the stem for actuating an indicant, said J-shapedmember having the end opposite/ thebifurcated end iixedly mounted, anarched fulcrum adjustably mounted in spaced relation from the Xed end ofthe spring and engaging the -J- shaped member on the side of the bightsubstantially opposite the fixed end, means for shifting the fulcrum,and means responding to changed conditions, said last means engaging theyspring member between the fulcrum and the bifurcated end for swingingthe free end of the spring member to actuate the spirally disposedactuating member.

3. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member responding to changed conditions; said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped spring member having the end ofthestem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposed'actuating member straddled by said bifurcated end ofthe stem foractuating an indicant,.said 3 0 between the fulcrum and the bifurcatedend for 4r swinging the free end of the spring member to. actuate thespirally disposed actuating member.

4. An indicatingr device for indicating incre. ments of displacement ofa movable member responding to changed conditions, said indicating 4;

device including a substantially J-shaped spring member havingthe end ofthe stem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by said bifurcated end of the stem foractuating an indicant, said J- 5| shaped member having the end oppositethe bi.- I furcated end xedly mounted, an adjustably mounted archedfulcrum member having one end pivotally mounted in spaced ,relation fromthe xed end of the spring', said arched fulcrum 5.

member engaging the J-shaped member on the side opposite the bight,adjustable means for supporting the other end of the fulcrum member, theadjustment of said adjustable means shifting the fulcrum member relativeto said J- 6. shaped member, and rmeans responding to the changedconditions, said last means engaging the spring member between thefulcrum and the bifurcated end for swinging the free end of the l springmember to actuate the spirally disposed actuating member.A

5. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member responding to changed conditions, said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped Vspring member having the end `of thestem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by saidbifurcated end of the stem foractuatingan indicant, said J-shaped `member having the endopposite the'bifurcated end iixedly mounted, means for adjusting the tension of saidJ-shaped member, an arched fulcrum adjustably mounted in spaced relationfrom the iixed end of the spring member posed actuating member.

6.,An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member responding to changed conditions, said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped spring membe'x` having the end of`the stem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by said bifurcated end of the stem foractuating an indicant, said J-'shaped member having the end oppositethe' bifurcated endxedly mounted, means for ad- `justing the tension ofsaid J-shaped member, said means including'a screw adjustably mountedfor movement toward and away from the bight of thel J-shaped member, anarched fulcrum adjustably mounted in spaced relation from the fixed endf the spring and engaging the J-shaped member on the side of the bightsubstantially opposite the xed end, means for shifting the position ofthe arched fulcrum relative to said J-shaped member, and meansresponding to the changed conditions, said last means engaging thespring member between the fulcrum and the bifurcated end for swingingthe free end of the spring member to actuate the spirally disposedactuating member.

7. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member respending to changed conditions', said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped spring member having the end of thestem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by said bifurcated end of the stem foractuating an indicant, said J-shaped member having the end opposite thebifurcated endiixedly mounted, an arched fulcrum adjustably mountedinspaced relation from the fixed end of the spring and engaging the J-shaped member on the side of the bight substantially opposite the fixedend, a turnbuckle interconnecting the ends of the arched fulcrum foradjusting the radius of curvature thereof, and

means responding to the changed conditions, said last means engaging thespring member between the fulcrum and the bifurcated end for swingingthe free end of the spring member to actuate the spirally disposedactuating member.

8. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable memberresponding to changed conditions,l said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped spring member having the end of thestem bifurcated,

indicating means including a spirally disposed actuating memberstraddled by said bifurcated end of the stem for actuating an indicant,said J-shaped member having the endv opposite the bifurcated endfixedlymounted, an arched fulcrum adjustably mounted in spaced relation from lthe xed end of the spring and engaging the J- andthe bifurcated end forswinging the free end ot the spring member to actuate the spirally dis-Y posed actuating member.

9. An indicating device for indicating increments of displacement of amovable member responding to changed conditions, said indicating deviceincluding a substantially J-shaped spring member having the end of the'stem bifurcated, indicating means including a spirally disposedactuating member straddled by said bifurcated end of the stem foractuating an indicant, said J-shaped member having 'the end opposite theAbifurcated end xedly mounted, an arched fulcrum adjustably mounted inspaced relation from the xed end of the spring and engaging the J-shaped member on the side of the bight substantially opposite the iixedend, a turnbuckle interconnecting the ends of the fulcrum, theadjustment of which changes the radius of curvature oi the fulcrum, asecond turnbuckle for adjustingfurcated end for swinging the free end ofthe 50 spring member to actuate the spirally disposed actuating member.

